Sunday, June 24, 2012

It’s
hard to beat Adelaide Hills producer Mike Press when it comes to value for
money.You always get plenty of
flavour and immediate drinkability from Mr Press, as in this new-release from the recently completed vintage. It’s an awesomely fresh and lively wine,
indisputably sauvignon blanc, but the exuberant fruit has a real “feelgood”
factor. It’s a crisp, crunchy, dry young wine with green citrus, gooseberry and
guava flavours; making it a perfect quaffer with its lively acid. It would be
superb with pan-fried flathead or some spicy flash-fried prawns. $12-13. www.mikepresswines.com.au

Monday, June 11, 2012

Looking for a red wine that is enjoyable, offers a point of difference and is affordable? Well, you won't go wrong with this fresh and lively young thing from Bunkers at Margaret River. Made from the Spanish grape variety tempranillo, it's a rich and generous red with plenty of flavour and some nutty oak - but its appeal lies in its balance. Yes there are some red berry characters. There's some spice, too, but this is a wine for drinking, not one for pontificating about. My guess is your bottle will pretty soon be empty without you having paid too much attention. Juicy, fruity and delicious, this is great value for $20.www.bunkerswines.com.au.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

A delightful drink this one, from a small producer in Lussac St Emilion on Bordeaux's right bank. There is plenty of concentration on the nose while the palate reveals dark berry and currant flavours with oak (30% new) playing a mere support role. A blend of merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon, it is a supple wine, soft and round with excellent balance and complexity, but more importantly drinkability. It's a very clean wine, smooth and characterful and with medium-term cellaring potential. A very good introduction to affordable Bordeaux from a well-regarded vintage. $25. Imported by DiscoverVin. www.discovervin.com.au.